He was 31 when he enlisted (4 [34, in 1863], 6, 8 [30 in 1860], 11 [40 at death in 1864]). He was born in Dennagal [perhaps Donegal?] Ireland (4, 6, 8, 11).
In 1860, he was living in the first ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (8). He was a mason (8). Five children living with him are probably his (8):
Martha Baird, 37, born in Ireland, a dressmaker, was also living with them (8).
He was a stone mason when he enlisted (4, 6). He was living in Philadelphia (6).
He was 5 feet 4-1/2 inches tall, had a dark complexion, grey eyes, and dark hair (4, 6 [5'4", dark complexion, blue eyes, brown hair]).
He was enrolled and mustered into service as a private in company B on 20 August 1861, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1, 6). He was transferred to company E (1, 6).
He was wounded on 3 May 1863 at Chancellorsville, Virginia (1).
On 26 March 1864, at Warrenton Junction, he re-enlisted as a veteran volunteer (4, 6). He was enlisted by Lieutenant Brass for three years (4).
He was killed on 1 June 1864 at Bethesda Church (1, which has Cold Harbor; 2, 4, 6, 7, 11). His head was blown off while the regiment was forming a line (2, 4). Walter claims that they were marching in front of a rebel battery, which was firing into the woods at very close range. "One of the shots scattered the brains of a comrade of Co. E" (3).
He was buried on 2 March--presumably 2 March 1865--in Mount Moriah Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (11). He was a stone mason (11). He was buried from 1039 Lingo Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (11).
A minor dependent of his, Andrew Baird, applied successfully for a pension on 6 October 1864 (5, 10).
In 1870, Martha Baird was living in Philadelphia, perhaps on South Second Street (9). Charles (17) and William (15) Baird were living with her (9).
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster)
3 Thomas F Walter. 'Personal recollections and experiences of an obscure soldier'. Grand Army Scout and Soldiers' Mail v.3 #48 p.1. (Although he identifies the soldier only as a "comrade in company E", the story seems to fit only Baird's death.)
4 descriptive roll, company E, entry 20 (Alexander Baird)
5 Veterans' administration. Pension index, by name. (Searched 13 Jan 2001, at <www.ancestry.com>.) (Alexander Baird)
6 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 5 May 2004 (Alexander Baird)
7 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 9 June 1864 (Alex Baird)
8 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 1, page 25 handwritten=page 723 stamped, line 35 to page 26 handwritten=page 724 stamped, line 3 (Alexander Baird)
9 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, second enumeration, 14th district, page 541 stamped = page 47 handwritten
10 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company E (Alexander Baird)
11 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1 June 1864 (Alexander Baird)
[I was not able to find Alexander Baird in the 1850 census]
[I did not find an entry for him in Ancestry's index to the 1890 veterans' census (searched November 2005)]
| Line | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Dwelling number | 151 | ||||||||
| Family number | 187 | ||||||||
| Name | John Clark | Margaret | Alexander Baird | William | Charles | John | Elizabeth Baird | Henry W | Martha |
| Age | 33 | 29 | 30 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 37 |
| Sex | M | F | M | M | M | M | F | M | F |
| Color | |||||||||
| Occupation | Mason | do. [sc. Mason] | Dressmaker | ||||||
| Value of real estate owned | |||||||||
| Value of personal estate | |||||||||
| Place of birth | Ireland | " | " | Phila | " | " | Phila | " | Ireland |
| Married within year | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Cannot read & write | |||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| Line | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Dwelling-house number | 518 | ||
| Family number | |||
| Name | Martha Baird | Charles " | William " |
| Age | 40 | 17 | 15 |
| Sex | " [sc. F] | M | " |
| Color | |||
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| Real estate value | |||
| Personal estate value | |||
| Birthplace | |||
| Father foreign born | |||
| Mother foreign born | |||
| Birth month if born within year | |||
| Marriage month if married within year | |||
| Attended school past year | |||
| Can't read | |||
| Can't write | |||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. | |||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old | |||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |